Foot-rest for chairs.



No. 7l5,667. Patented Doc. 9. I902.

J. 8. KENNY. Foo'r BEST FOR cums.

Applicltion filed May 1, 1902.) (No Model.)

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PATENT JOHN S. KENNY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

FOOT-REST FOR CHAIRS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 715,667, dated December 9, 1902.

Original application filed April 11, 1901 Serial No. 55,330. Divided and this application filed May 1, 1902. Serial To all whom, it Wmy concern.-

Be it known that 1, JOHN S. KENNY, residing at New York city, in the county and State of New York, have invented certain new and usefnllmprovementsin Foot-Rests forChairs, of which the following is a specification.

This application is a division of my former application, filed April 11, 1901, Serial No. 55,330, for improvements in reclining-chairs and is directed particularly to the foot-rest shown and described therein. The foot-rest designed by me may, however, be applied to chairs in general by making such slight changes only as are necessary to accommodate the sliding under the chair of the parts forming the foot-rest.

The invention consists of improvements in the several parts of the foot-rest, which are described and pointed out in the following specification.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a reclining-chair with my improved foot-rest applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a central vertical longitudinal section of the chair and the foot-rest represented in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a central longitudinal section of the chair with the foot-rest and its parts extended or opened ready for use. Fig. 4 is a central vertical section. Figs. 5, 6, and 7 are detail views, respectively, of the rack, pinion, and cross-bar, and the joint connecting the foot-board and the angular shaped links. Figs. 8, 9, and 10 are side views of a modification to be hereinafter described.

In the accompanying drawings the chair is provided with any suitable supporting-framework, comprising the seat-frame 1, front legs 2, rear legs 4, and arm-rests 5, and the front and rear supports 6 and 7 for the arm-rests, the latter by preference being each formed in one piece with one of the legs 2 and 4, respectively, as shown in the drawings forming part of my aforesaid application.

I will now proceed to describe the construction and mode of operation of the foot-rest forming the subject-matter of this application, reference being had particularly to Figs.

1, 2, 3, and 4, in which 26 represents a footboard hinged at its upper end to the front edge of the seat-frame. It is preferably of a size to extend from leg to leg 2 and from (No model.)

the upper edge of the seat-frame to the floor. To the outer or free edge of the front board 26 there is hinged an extensionboard 27, which is provided at its outer or free edge with folding legs 28, arranged to support the extension-board when it is in the open or extended position. (Indicated in Fig. The extension piece or board 27 is adapted to fold against the rear face of the front board 26 and be there secured by suitable catch devices 51 when it is not in use, as indicated in Fig. 4.

The foot rest or board, which is indicated at 29, is provided, for convenience, with folding legs 28 and is pivoted at its lower edge to the forward ends of the links 30, which conmeet it with the slide or adjusting bars 31. These bars are preferably of the angular shape shown in the drawings, having an upper and substantially horizontally-arranged portion adapted to be moved longitudinally forward and back in suitable ways 33, formed in the inner sides of the side bars of the seatframe, and vertically-disposed parts 34, pivotally united at their lower ends with the links 30. The upper edge of the horizontal portion 32 of each slide-bar 31 is preferably formed with teeth to form a rack 35, and a pinion or toothed wheel 36 engages therewith. The pinions 36 for the racks of the two slide-bars are both mounted upon a cross shaft 37, (shown in Figs. 5 and 6,) so that the slide-bars will be simultaneously and synchronously moved forward and back. The shaft 37 exparts are parallel with each other, as represented in Fig. 4, and one in which they are substantially at right angles to each other, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

A foot-rest constructed as shown and as above described is capable of being manipulated so as to bring the parts into a number of desirable positions to suit the various uses to which the chair having my improved footrest applied may be put. Vhen the foot-rest is not in use, the parts are folded close to the supporting-frame, so as to be out of the way, as represented in Fig. 4. As there shown, the front board is substantially vertical, the extension-board 27 is folded against the rear face of the frontboard, the slides 31 are moved to their rearmost positions, bringing the inner or lower edge of the footboard 29 close to the front face of the front board, and the footboard is folded up parallel to the front board, lying against the front face thereof. It may be held in this position by tightening the clamping-nuts 10.

When the foot-rest is adjusted for use with a steamer-chair, as seen in Fig. 3, the slidebars are adjusted to their forwardmost position, and the front board is adjusted so as to lie above the footboard, and the extensionboard is folded out and supported by the legs 28. \Vhen the parts are in this position, the under edge of the front board rests upon the upper edge of the footboard and is supported thereby, the footboard being held in position by the slotted links 39 and the clamping-nuts. In order to steady the parts when in this position and whenever the footboard is adjusted forward, I prefer to notch the under side of the links 30 at 41, so that they may engage with a cross-bar42,arranged between the front legs 3 of the supporting-frame.

When the foot-rest is combined with an ordinary reclining-chair, as seen in Fig. 1, the parts are adjusted so as to have the lower edge of the footboard engage with the front face of the front board near its lower edge, as indicated in the drawings, the extensionboard being close against the rear face of the front board. Then the parts are in this position, the footboard may be adjusted to occupy any desired angle relative to the footboard, as will readily be understood.

Referring now more particularly to Figs. 8, 9, and 10, I will now proceed to describe the construction and operation of the modification illustrated therein. In these figures the foot-rest is in all its essential particulars identically the same as the foot-rest above described and shown in the main figures of the drawings, except in the modification I omit the hinged footboard 29, the brackets 39, and the joint connecting the links 30 and the footboard 29 together. In this instance I place flat upon the upper edges of the links 30 a suitable piece of material, preferably thin board, (which is upholstered, as shown at 60,) to form a foot board or rest for the feet, as shown in Fig.8, which shows the foot-rest retracted and not in use. In Fig. 9 I have shown the angle frame or links 3% extended or in outward position ready for use, the front board being in vertical position. In Fig. 10 I have shown the angle-frame 8a retracted and the front board 26 elevated and the extension-board folded out and supported on legs 28 to sustain it in proper position. In order to support and provide for the free and easy inward and outward movement of the angular-shaped frames, I prefer to provide them with short legs having casters 61 located near their outer free ends, as seen in Fig. 9 of the drawings. In this way the moving in and out of the frame is expedited and rendered a matter of easy accomplishment. The flat piece of board and the front face of the front board 26 may be suitablyupholstered, as at 60, if desired, or otherwise ornamented.

Having now described my invention and the manner in which the same is or may be carried into effect, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination of a seat-frame having suitable ways formed in the inner sides of the side bars thereof, a front board hinged at its upper end to the seat-frame, a forward and back sliding angular frame, having an upper horizontally-arranged portion, having a rack formed in its upper edge, and adapted to move longitudinally forward and back in said ways, the links pivoted to the lower ends of the sliding frame, a footboard connected with the links, a shaft extending through the sides of the seat-frame, pinions mounted upon the ends of the cross-shaft, and hand wheels or knobs secured to the ends of said shaft, these parts being arranged and operated substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore set forth.

2. The combination of a seat-frame, a front board hinged at its upper end to the seatframe, an extension-board hinged to free edge of the front board, supports, for holding the extension-board, in extended position, a forward and back sliding frame, a footboard pivoted at its rear edge to the sliding frame, and adjustable connections between the footboard and the front board, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

3. The combination of a seat-frame, a front board hinged to the seat-frame near its upper end, a forward and back sliding frame, a footboard pivoted at its rear edge to the said sliding frame, and adjustable connections between the footboard and the front board, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination of a seat-frame, a front board pivoted at its upper end to the seatframe, the angular slide-bars, located in the seat-frame, means for adj usting such bars forward and back, the links pivoted to the lower ends of the angular slide-bars, the footboard pivotally connected with the forward ends of the links, and the adjustable connecting means between the footboard and the front board whereby the angle of one to the other may be varied, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto setmy hand this 18th day of April, 1902.

JOHN S. KENNY. Vitnesses:

I-I. MUsI-IoRN, MAX BLASEVVITZ. 

